Chinese defense minister meets with guests attending SCO Defense Ministers' Meeting

Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun on Thursday held separate meetings in east China's Qingdao City with the secretary-general of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and his counterparts from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and India.

All the guests attended the SCO Defense Ministers' Meeting from Wednesday to Thursday.

During the meetings, Dong noted that the SCO is an important force in the practice of true multilateralism, and in safeguarding global strategic stability, saying the meeting conveyed to the international community the determination and confidence of all member states to adhere to the Shanghai Spirit and deepen solidarity and cooperation.

He called for joint efforts to address the serious impacts of unilateralism, protectionism and hegemonic acts, and to inject more certainty and positive energy into regional prosperity and stability.

China stands ready to work closely with the defense departments and militaries of SCO member states to push for continuous progress in defense and security cooperation, Dong said.

The attendees expressed their appreciation for China's thoughtful arrangements for the meeting, adding they are willing to enhance the level of defense and security cooperation within the SCO framework, and to promote security, stability, development and prosperity in the region and around the world.

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil issued a statement on Saturday, saying that the security alert released by the U.S. Department of State regarding Venezuela is based on false claims that do not exist and is intended to create a perception of risk that is not real.

According to the statement posted on Gil's official X account, Venezuela is currently in a state of absolute calm, peace and stability.

All residential areas, transportation routes, checkpoints and security facilities in the country are functioning normally, and all armed forces nationwide are under the government's control.

The statement came after the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs on Saturday warned that as international flights have resumed, U.S. citizens in Venezuela "should leave the country immediately."